A new week had begun and the ladies of Sugarbaker's design firm were hoping to get caught up before the weekend came as Anthony came in to give Julia the paperwork for Charlene to file in their customer's folder.

"Why do I have to go and babysit an iguana with Anthony?" Suzanne asked her sister.

"Because our dear friend asked you to while she went grocery shopping and Anthony has to get a list of measurements for the redo of her bedroom." Julia said.

"I don't like lizards." Suzanne said.

"Suzanne, quit being dramatic and go out to the van." Julia said as her sister pouted.

"You owe me big for this." Suzanne slammed the door behind her.

"Thank you Julia." Mary Jo said as she was proudly grinning over the fact that she didn't have to watch their client's iguana.

"No problem Mary Jo." Julia said.

"Say, what if Anthony put the iguana on her?" Mary Jo asked, laughing.

"I don't think that would be wise. He'll probably have to wax her legs again." Julis said as she didn't even want to think about that.

"Why can't she shave them like the rest of us?" Mary Jo questioned.

"She says that shaving doesn't help her get the precise smoothness that she wants." Julia said as Anthony came downstairs as he dreaded riding in a van with Suzanne.

"I can't wait to come back home. Suzanne drives me crazy every time we come back from watching Mrs. Frickey's iguana." Anthony said.

"Better her than me.'' Mary Jo said.

"No, it's like hearing the sound of nails on a chalkboard." Anthony kissed Julia goodbye and left.

...

Some time had passed as a knock came to the door.

Charlene answered it as she recognized who it was.

"Hello Charlene." The man said.

"Julia?" Charlene called to the top of the stairs as Julia was in her bedroom, looking for her catalogue.

"What is Charlene?" Julia asked as Charlene hesitated to answer her back.

"Anthony's father is here." Charlene said as Julia came down the stairs.

"Oh my goodness! How are you?" Julia said as she was in disbelief, seeing Anthony's father standing there.

"I'm good now since I have seen you Julia." He said.

"Anthony is out right now. What are you doing back here in Atlanta?" Julia asked.

"Julia, I've been doing a lot of thinking and I want to be here for Anthony all the time. Lately, I've been looking for work and I want to be close to Anthony." He said.

"Anthony got your letter and he wants you to be in his life too. The last time you were here was before Anthony and I got together." Julia said.

"I want to make it up to him for not coming to the wedding and not being here like I'm supposed to." He said.

"I think he'd like that." Julia said as she hoped and prayed.

"I heard I was also going to be a grandfather?" He questioned as Julia smiled, really praying that this visit was really sincere.

"That's correct." Julia said.

"Anthony has always wanted a child, after speaking with Dondi, I knew he'd always find someone like you and I'm glad he has you." He said.

"Well, thank you and I'm happy to have him too." Julia said as she hoped Anthony would be happy.

...

After an evening of listening to Suzanne complaining about having to babysit Mrs. Frickey's iguana with him, he looked forward to coming home to Julia.

As he opened the door for Suzanne, he immediately noticed who was sitting between his wife and friends as Julia hoped he would not get upset.

"Hello father." Anthony said as Julia still hoped for the best.

"Hello Son." His father said.

"What a surprise to find you here." Anthony said as Julia noticed the expression of doubt on his face while his father stood up to shake his son's hand.

"Darling, I'm going to go to the store to get something for supper. I'll be back soon, ladies care to join me?" Julia asked as she wanted to let Anthony and his father talk.

"Sure." Charlene and Mary Jo said.

"I have to get on home." Suzanne said as she got up and hurriedly walked out the door.

...

Julia had so much going through her mind while she drove while Charlene and Mary Jo chatted.

"What do you think will happen while we're gone?" Mary Jo asked Julia.

"I'm hoping that Anthony and his father will work some tension between them out. He was so upset before the wedding and not having his parents there made it worse." Julia said, remembering the night before their wedding as he cried on her shoulder while she held him.

"We've never met his mother though." Charlene said.

"She left Anthony with Dondi, his grandmother when he was only two weeks old and he's never seen or met her." Julia said.

"How can a parent do that to their child?" Mary Jo asked.

"I don't know and that's why I'm going to be very precautious when I have my child. I was that way when Payne was born and I don't plan on changing my mind when my baby gets here." Julia said as they arrived at the grocery store.

"You have every right Julia, you and Anthony are the parents and you can tell people to go to hell when your baby gets here." Mary Jo said.

"I know what will be best for my child and people who come in and out of a child's life only creates problems for them in the future." Julia said.

"So, have thought if you're going to have a boy or a girl?" Charlene asked.

"I believe I'm having a girl." Julia said.

"Well, at least you know how to raise a boy, but girls are pretty special since you already know what it's like to have a woman." Charlene said.

"What does Anthony want? A boy or a girl?" Mary Jo asked.

"He wants a girl too. Payne is like a son to him and they get along really well." Julia said, smiling.

"When is Payne coming to town next?" Mary Jo asked.

"In a couple of weeks to help Anthony paint the nursery." Julia said.

"Can we help?" Mary Jo asked.

"Sure." Julia said.

...

They returned to Julia's house as Anthony and his father looked like they worked everything out.

"Here baby, let me get those." Anthony said as he took the groceries from Julia's arms and went into the kitchen.

"So, what's for dinner?" His father asked.

"Looks like spaghetti." Anthony said, knowing she'd been craving it.

"That's what I started craving earlier and it honestly sounded really good." Julia said as she took off her shoes to ease the pain and swelling.

"Then, that's what we'll have." Anthony said.

"Ladies, would you care to join us?" Anthony's father asked.

"I'd love to, but I have to get home to my kids." Mary Jo said.

"Mary Jo, you can bring Quint and Claudia over here for dinner. That way you won't have to cook."

"Well, thank you Anthony. I won't be long." Mary Jo said as she grabbed her purse and keys as she rushed out the door.

"Charlene?" His father asked.

"Sure, I would love to join you." Charlene said.

"Great!" Julia said.

...

"Honestly, that's the best thing I've eaten in awhile." Anthony's father said.

"Yeah, usually Claudia cooks dinner sometimes for Quint and I because when I get home, I'm half asleep when I walk through the door." Mary Jo said.

"Microwave meals are usually my go to since Bill is away and I don't really feel like cooking after I get home." Charlene said.

"I know it might not be the best thing for an expecting mother who is in her first trimester, but I am savoring every bite until tomorrow." Julia said, not ready for the morning sickness she knew that would come early in the morning.

"How are feeling right now?" Anthony asked.

"I feel great." Julia said.

"Wonderful." Anthony said.

...

After everyone helped clean up and they washed the dishes, Anthony and Julia turned out the lights downstairs and walked into their bedroom.

"I hope he stays true to his word about being around a lot more." Anthony said as Julia caressed his hand.

"Maybe he will darling." Julia said as Anthony kissed her as she smiled.

"What do you say we cuddle up and watch a movie together?" Anthony asked her.

"You know how that usually goes. I'll just fall asleep right in the middle of the movie." Julia said.

"And that's alright, because you're sleeping for two now." Anthony said as he caressed her stomach.

"Okay, maybe I won't fall asleep." Julia said.

"We both know you will baby and it's alright if you do." Anthony said.

"I love you handsome." Julia said, kissing his cheek.

"I love you too beautiful." Anthony said as they cuddled up together.

They kissed and turned out the lights as they started watching a movie together which her prediction was right and she drifted off to sleep as Anthony switched off the TV and drifted off to sleep too.

Author's Note: I hope y'all are having a great day and enjoy this chapter! ❤